Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master's DNP)

Description

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional degree representing the highest level of clinical nursing competence. The DNP program is designed to provide students the opportunity to assimilate and utilize in-depth knowledge of nursing, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational sciences, with sophisticated informatics and decision-making technology to develop collaborative strategies that optimize the health of individuals, families, communities and systems. Grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, the DNP program emphasizes the student’s development as an expert clinician with strong leadership capacity, a commitment to service, and skills to act as change agents, translating clinical research into improved health care.

The post-Master’s DNP curriculum is designed to admit Master’s-prepared certified APRNs in the following clinical specialties: nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and clinical nurse specialist and MSN-prepared nurses in specialty areas such as nurse administration, executive leadership and nursing informatics. The DNP program curriculum is based upon the AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education.

The DNP builds upon the Master of Science in Nursing degree and requires 36 credits. The curriculum includes formative coursework that culminates in a practicum and a doctoral project. The program is offered as a hybrid model. We have an online virtual classroom that also supports student participation from remote locations.

Admission Criteria

Earned Master of Science in Nursing or Nurse Anesthesia from an accredited school** with a graduate GPA > 3.2

Current unencumbered Michigan Registered Nurse license and privilege to practice as a Registered Nurse that is not limited in any way by an employer.

National Board Certification in an area of clinical specialization, if applicable.

Recognized by the Michigan Board of Nursing with Specialty Certification status as a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Anesthetist, if applicable.

Evidence of current clinical practice.

Three professional letters of recommendation are required. Recommendation letters should include at least: a) one from a professional who can attest to the applicant’s clinical performance. This should be someone in a position to evaluate the applicant’s work and b) one from a professional who can assess the applicant’s academic potential for professional doctoral study (such as a dean or faculty from the previous graduate degree program). Recommendations from doctorally-prepared professionals are preferred.

Official transcripts sent directly from each institution of higher education since high school.

Professional portfolio including curriculum vitae or resume and an essay (500-1000 words) addressing the applicant’s goals for doctoral study and focused area of clinical interest for the doctoral project.

Interview.

**Applicants may require prerequisite coursework to meet the master’s level essentials in Nursing.

DNP Program Objectives

Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Semester 6

Doctorate of Nursing Practice: Consortium with Madonna University

Description

As part of a consortium with Madonna University, eligible University of Detroit Mercy Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) students may take up to 12 credits at Madonna University (MU) while paying their home institution’s tuition rates. Likewise, eligible Madonna University DNP students may take up to 12 credits at Detroit Mercy while paying MU tuition rates. This agreement is limited to the four courses determined to be equivalent by the graduate nursing faculty at both institutions as well as the collaborative elective courses developed as part of a HRSA grant.

Consortium Electives

Madonna University

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Detroit Mercy, McAuley School of Nursing are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone: (202) 887-6791.